TYB
jam pack it full of the good stuff
companion article
https://www.404media.co/government-registers-aliens-gov-domain/
Pentagon’s Golden Dome Cost Estimate Grows to $185 Billion
March 17, 2026
The Pentagon has increased the cost estimate for its Golden Dome advanced missile defense shield by $10 billion in recent months due to demand for more space sensing, tracking, and data transport capabilities, the general in charge of the effort said March 17.
Golden Dome Director Gen. Michael Guetlein said his team was directed to speed up delivery of some key space technology that will be part of the program’s architecture—namely the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, the Space Force’s data transport layer, and space-based air moving target indicator capabilities.
“We were asked to accelerate some space capabilities to move the current program schedules from the right to the left,” he said at McAleese & Associates’ Defense Programs Conference.
“They gave us $10 billion extra to accelerate those capabilities with the United States Space Force.”
The Pentagon envisions Golden Dome as a vast network of sensors, satellites, and interceptors designed to protect the United States from missile threats.
During a White House briefing last May, President Donald Trump—who has championed Golden Dome as a signature defense project since the start of his second term—said the program would cost $175 billion and would field an initial capability by 2028.
Since then, some analysts have released estimates that are much higher. Todd Harrison from the American Enterprise Institute has projected costs ranging anywhere from $250 billion to $2.4 trillion.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the cost at $542 billion. The cost of widespread space-based interceptors in particular is seen as likely to be high.
Guetlein argued that those outside projections are based on inaccurate assumptions about the program’s architecture, which is largely classified.
“I would say the biggest difference between what they are estimating and what we are building is they’re not estimating what I’m building,” he said.
“They’re estimating a very large, complex capability, fully integrated, using technologies that we currently use to fight the away game.”
Guetlein didn’t describe the details of Golden Dome’s architecture and declined to offer more insight into cost projections for specific elements like space-based interceptors or command and control.
But he said keeping the program’s cost within its baseline estimate—which it has already exceeded—is a major focus for him.
Some elements of homeland missile defense are inherently more affordable, he argued, because the Pentagon can leverage and repurpose existing communications nodes and infrastructure and doesn’t have to “ruggedize” equipment as it would for an overseas conflict.
But to really drive down costs, he said, the Defense Department will need to rely on “next-generation technology” like directed energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced data processing.
“We’re working really closely with the national labs and with the Director of Research and Engineering to bring to bear some of that next-generation tech to drive down that cost per kill and drive up the magazine,” he said.
The Pentagon has about $23 billion on hand for initial Golden Dome work, which Congress provided through last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In a report accompanying the fiscal 2026 appropriations act, lawmakers criticized a perceived lack of transparency on the program, saying they hadn’t received insight into its projected cost, schedule, and performance metrics.
Responding to those criticisms, Guetlein said he has been busy briefing members of Congress on the intricacies of the program.
“I have personally briefed all six committees numerous times on everything that we’re doing on Golden Dome, to include the detailed costs of what Golden Dome is going to cost,” he said.
“All of the funding for Golden Dome under reconciliation has flowed, and we’ve got a very close partnership with OMB and NSC on execution of those funds.”
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pentagon-golden-dome-cost-estimate-grows-185-billion/
extra Pentagon
https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/pentagon-developing-space-centric-national-defense-strategy
better than the basement that they used to have you in
Nvidia unveils new hardware in push for data centers in space
MARCH 18, 2026 11:29
Nvidia unveiled a hardware platform for space-based computing. The Vera Rubin Space-1 Module will support orbital data centers and process geospatial intelligence in orbit, according to CNBC.
CEO Jensen Huang called it the arrival of “space computing, the final frontier” during his keynote at Nvidia’s semi-annual AI conference, held at the SAP Center in San Jose, California
Huang said Nvidia and partners are developing a computer for orbital data centers but must solve cooling in a vacuum because “in space, there’s no convection, there’s just radiation.”
He described Nvidia’s approach as putting intelligence where data is generated, as satellite constellations expand and deep space missions multiply, to cut latency and reduce reliance on ground links.
Nvidia’s approach emphasizes that satellites can filter and process imagery, track weather systems, monitor infrastructure, and detect anomalies without waiting for instructions from Earth.
The Space Race
Rising electricity demand tied to AI training and inference on Earth has renewed interest in moving some compute to space, even as launch prices and payload availability limit scale today.
In November, Google outlined “Project Suncatcher” to study computing in orbit. In January, SpaceX sought US approval to deploy 1 million satellites dedicated to data center operations, according to PCMag.
It argued that space-based facilities will ultimately surpass terrestrial ones on cost and efficiency.
Startups are racing to demonstrate tangible orbital compute gains. Starcloud, backed by Nvidia, plans to operate satellites as orbital data centers dedicated to AI workloads.
It says it will use Nvidia GPUs to run large language models in space and target scenarios that reduce dependence on downlink bandwidth by processing data in orbit.
The company expects its Starcloud-1 system to deliver 100 times the compute of any previous space-based operation. It is planning a satellite launch in November that incorporates Nvidia’s new module.
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-890362
UK Space Agency signs landmark agreement with Ukraine to strengthen civil space cooperation
18 March 2026
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Embassy of Ukraine in London by UK Space Agency Chief Executive Dr Paul Bate and General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom.
This is the first agency-to-agency agreement between the UK Space Agency and SSAU. It demonstrates the UK’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Ukraine in the space sector and supports the ambitions set out in the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, agreed in January 2025.
A formal framework will encourage collaboration between UK and Ukrainian space organisations and boost the exchange of information and expertise, while supporting new activity in areas of mutual interest across civil and commercial space.
This week, the UK Space Agency will also contribute €100,000 to support a programme of joint activities between the European Space Agency (ESA) and SSAU, which will help bolster Ukraine’s space sector.
The first activity is a project called ‘Agricultural and ecological monitoring services for Ukraine and Black Sea region (SEN4STATUkr)’, which is set to improve current practices in agriculture statistics using Earth Observation data.
The SSAU brings together a strong scientific and industrial base, supporting the development and manufacture of modern launch vehicles, spacecraft engines, control systems, command radio links, telemetry and other advanced space technologies.
Its ecosystem includes industry and research institutes employing around 10,000 highly skilled specialists.
The new agreement highlights a shared commitment to the peaceful use of outer space, international cooperation, and the development of space technologies that can deliver social and economic benefits.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
Space is central to modern economies, from communications and navigation to climate monitoring and infrastructure resilience.
This agreement marks an important step in strengthening our partnership with Ukraine in the civil and commercial space sector.
By working together, we can support innovation, unlock new commercial opportunities for UK and Ukrainian organisations, and harness space technologies to deliver real-world benefits for our citizens.
Volodymyr Mikheiev, Acting Head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, said:
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Space Agency of Ukraine and the UK Space Agency is an important step in strengthening cooperation between our countries in the space sector.
We highly value the opportunity to begin a closer dialogue and exchange of experience between our agencies, as well as to bring our national space sectors closer together.
I am confident that our partnership will contribute to the development of joint space initiatives for the benefit of the people of Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Following the signing, the SSAU will meet with UK Space Agency programme leads to explore potential areas for collaboration.
The UK has one of the largest space sectors in Europe, employing tens of thousands of people across the country in satellite manufacturing, space science, launch services and downstream applications.
Today’s agreement reinforces the UK’s role as a leading partner in international space cooperation and strengthens ties with Ukraine as part of a long-term, strategic partnership.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-space-agency-signs-landmark-agreement-with-ukraine-to-strengthen-civil-space-cooperation
ESA seeks scalable VLEO platforms for satellite video
17/03/2026
Today's Earth observation satellites deliver snapshots – precise and valuable, but static. Many of the most consequential events on Earth, from wildfires to floods to urban crises, unfold over minutes and hours.
A new SysNova campaign is looking for ideas that could change that.
The Scalable VLEO Platform for Satellite Video campaign invites industry and academia to develop disruptive mission concepts for continuous, high-fidelity video monitoring from Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO).
Satellites operating at VLEO altitudes – typically 250 to 350 km – are significantly closer to Earth's surface than conventional Earth observation spacecraft, offering sharper resolution, lower latency, and improved revisit and persistence characteristics.
"Recording video from satellites is a new capability that could transform how dynamic processes on Earth are observed," says Iga Szczesniak, Space Innovation Engineer.
"We are looking for mission concepts that enable continuous monitoring rather than periodic snapshots of a specific geolocation.
By unlocking the advantages of VLEO, such as higher spatial resolution, reduced latency, and improved revisit time, we can provide even sharper data to empower the most demanding applications on Earth."
The challenge is run through the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) and seeks complete mission concepts – not individual subsystems – that make continuous visual monitoring from VLEO technically and economically feasible.
Target applications include near-real-time monitoring of floods, wildfires, and other dynamic phenomena; continuous situational awareness for humanitarian and security applications; environmental monitoring; and agricultural tracking.
A key benchmark is the ability to record a minimum ten-minute video at 15 frames per second over a region of interest.
The total reference mission budget (excluding launch) must not exceed €50 m, and the mission must be ready for in-orbit demonstration by 2030.
Submit your ideas
The campaign is open for approximately six weeks. Up to eight ideas will be selected to develop full proposals, with up to five teams awarded a Cooperative Agreement of €120,000 to carry out a six-month pre-Phase A study.
The most compelling concept will be invited to a joint study at ESA's Concurrent Design Facility.
This call is being run by the Preparation element of ESA's Basic Activities via the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP). You can find all the details of the timing, process and conditions here.
https://ideas.esa.int/servlet/hype/IMT?documentId=a4bc6e17e8f690c0e29d70574fc6736f&userAction=Browse&templateName=
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/Discovery_and_Preparation/ESA_seeks_scalable_VLEO_platforms_for_satellite_video
extra ESA
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/03/Sophie_Adenot_getting_ready_for_an_EchoFinder_session
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/epsilon/Augmented_reality_and_artificial_intelligence_for_ultrasound_scans
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Meteorological_missions/Arctic_Weather_Satellite/OHB_Sweden_to_build_Sterna_weather_constellation
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/03/Plato_s_journey_to_L2
China's tech trial links space computing with OpenClaw, humanoid robot
23:05, 18-Mar-2026am
In a milestone fusion of three frontier technologies, a Chinese lab has recently successfully demonstrated remote, intelligent control of ground-based humanoid robots using OpenClaw and computing power from orbit.
Conducted by the joint lab of GuoXing Aerospace Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the experiment integrated an open-source AI agent, space-based processing and a terrestrial robot into a single closed-loop system.
In the trial, the operator issued voice commands that OpenClaw uploaded to China's orbiting satellites.
Onboard large language models performed in-orbit inference using space computing power, then transmitted decisions back to Earth for OpenClaw to control ground robot movements.
This task pioneers the deployment of AI Token-calling services in space, validating the feasibility of space computing for powering silicon-based intelligent agents.
When ground networks prove unreliable, space computing may provide high-performance AI capabilities for humanoid robots, quadruped robotic dogs, autonomous vehicles and drones.
In January, GuoXing Aerospace Technology, a commercial aerospace firm, uplinked Alibaba's Qwen3 large language model to its space-based computing center, enabling end-to-end reasoning tasks entirely in orbit.
Last May, China launched a new constellation of 12 space computing satellites into orbit, the first cluster of GuoXing Aerospace's space computing project.
The company, based in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is planning to build a sprawling network of 2,800 specialized computing satellites by 2035, including 2,400 inference satellites and 400 training satellites deployed across sun-synchronous, dawn-dusk, and low-inclination orbits at altitudes of 500 to 1,000 kilometers.
Its second and third satellite clusters are expected to be deployed this year, with a 1,000-satellite network completed by 2030.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-18/China-s-tech-trial-links-space-computing-with-OpenClaw-humanoid-robot-1LCxh2PvoBO/p.html
extra China
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-18/China-s-space-probe-uncovers-new-solar-effect-on-cosmic-rays-1LBHrRknrPi/p.html
Port Administration of American Samoa and ATLAS Space Operations Finalize Agreement for New Satellite Ground Station
March 10, 2026
The Port Administration of American Samoa has agreed to host advanced satellite tracking antenna systems for Michigan-based ATLAS Space Operations.
The new antenna systems will be located at the Port Administration’s airport facility in Tafuna, establishing American Samoa as a critical hub for satellite ground-station services in the South Pacific.
This strategic expansion enables ATLAS to provide critical telemetry, tracking, and data-collection services to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other commercial and government customers such as the US Military. By integrating American Samoa into its global antenna network, ATLAS enhances its satellite coverage between its existing sites in Hawaii, Guam, New Zealand, and Australia.
The antenna build is aligned with the Airport Master Plan, with lease proceeds directly supporting the Government of American Samoa in funding future airport infrastructure improvements.
Construction on the antenna foundation and data facility upgrades commenced on March 2, 2026.
The partnership also provides a boost to local industry, as the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) will contribute essential fiber-optic data services to the project.
“Working with the American Samoa Government to install this 3.7-meter S/X-Band antenna adds a significant enhancement to the ATLAS Enterprise Network,” said Stephen Jackson, Chief Engineer of ATLAS Space Operations.
“This location is highly strategic, allowing us to better serve remote sensing customers who require near real-time satellite data. The Government of American Samoa has been an exceptionally helpful partner in this effort.”
https://atlasspace.com/port-administration-of-american-samoa-and-atlas-space-operations-finalize-agreement-for-new-satellite-ground-station/
https://satnews.com/2026/03/11/atlas-space-operations-establishes-south-pacific-hub-with-new-ground-station-in-american-samoa/
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/560689/architects-exercise-bringing-space-domain-life-freedom-shield-26
Architects of the exercise: Bringing the space domain to life for Freedom Shield 26
03.17.2026
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – While thousands of service members train across multiple warfighting domains during exercise Freedom Shield 26, a small team from U.S. Space Forces – Korea is working behind the scenes to bring the space domain to life.
Freedom Shield 26 is a recurring exercise between the Republic of Korea and the United States, in collaboration with the United Nations Command, ensuring continuous preparedness for military forces on the Korean Peninsula.
For SPACEFOR-KOR, the exercise is an opportunity to rehearse theater-relevant operations across all Space Mission Areas, stress-test procedures and sharpen the command’s ability to scale operations rapidly.
A core focus of Freedom Shield 26 is to provide a demanding training environment to enhance combat readiness and response capabilities.
Across the warfighting domains – ground, air, naval, space, cyber and information – the space fight is being exercised digitally.
In the months leading up to the exercise, the SPACEFOR-KOR S7 directorate, responsible for force development, training and exercises, worked to develop a robust space environment to meet the command’s objectives.
“Our primary objective is to ensure we’re rehearsing theater-relevant [operational plans],” said U.S. Space Force Maj. Dillon Hagerty, SPACEFOR-KOR director of force development.
He added that additional objectives include validating the space operations planning cycle, testing command and control capabilities, and conducting partnership engagement.
Achieving those objectives was no easy task, with planning beginning long before the exercise started.
Building the scenarios Under normal conditions, the S7 directorate operates as a small four-person team responsible for extensive coordination across higher headquarters and supporting commands, as well as detailed planning and scenario development.
Hagerty explained the small team manages a heavy workload that includes administration, logistics, personnel coordination, exercise planning and scenario design.
To develop scenarios and simulated data, the S7 directorate works with the Pacific Air Simulation Center at Osan Air Base, the Korean Battle Simulation Center at Camp Humphreys and other simulation centers in the United States.
These partnerships allow the team to create a more realistic and responsive training environment for exercise participants.
“Our role here is a lot of coordination between the different simulation centers to make the space scenario work for these exercises as realistically as possible,” said U.S. Space Force 1st Lt. Roman Ocampo, SPACEFOR-KOR chief of exercise development.
1/2
Executing the exercise During exercise execution, the directorate transforms into a 24-hour operation known as the exercise control group, or ECG.
This team scales to more than a dozen members, including subject matter experts from across the Space Mission Areas and liaisons from the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Space Operations Group.
Together, the ECG executes and manages the scenarios that drive the space portion of the exercise forward.
“We are the controllers for the entire space domain for the exercise,” Ocampo said.
That responsibility spans a wide range of Space Mission Areas, including Missile Warning, Space Domain Awareness and scenarios involving degraded space-enabled effects that support combined operations.
By building those mission areas into the exercise, the group creates a more realistic contested environment for participants.
Much of the group’s operations take place at the Pacific Air Simulation Center, the only center in the Korean theater of operations that provides integrated air and space simulation, wargaming capabilities and continuous simulated data.
Inside the center, the space-focused ECG works alongside its air component counterparts to synchronize efforts and integrate space operations.
But the group’s role does not end once a scenario is launched.
“One of the big jobs that the [exercise control group] has to perform is monitoring player actions in order to keep the scenario running,” Ocampo said, explaining how U.S. members track U.S. forces actions while Republic of Korea counterparts monitor how ROK forces are responding to the space scenarios introduced in the exercise.
As the exercise unfolds, the ECG assesses how U.S. and Republic of Korea forces respond to simulated adversary threats, then adjusts the scenario to allow participants to see the impact of their actions.
This process sharpens shared understanding, improves coordination and reinforces how space operations support combined defense in the Korean theater of operations.
As SPACEFOR-KOR continues to grow its role in Freedom Shield, the command is making the space domain a more operationally relevant part of the training environment.
For the S7 team, that means continuously expanding the complexity, realism and scope of the space fight so combined forces are better prepared for real-world operations on the Korean Peninsula.
In that effort, the space domain is not just represented but fully integrated into the fight.
2/2
'Firefly' is getting an animated series featuring the original cast, and we're all shiny with anticipation
March 18, 2026
After a week of cryptic TikTok teaser videos of Nathan Fillion knocking on the front doors of his old "Firefly" co-stars’ homes, we finally got the official word from Captain Mal Reynolds himself: a new animated "Firefly" series is definitely in the works!
Heralding from Collision33, Fillion’s own production company, and 20th Television Animation, this sci-fi revival brings back the iconic crew of the Serenity that we first fell in love with back in 2002.
The original show tragically only received a single season before it was cancelled by Fox, and while we did get one more outing with the movie "Serenity" in 2005, it's been more than two decades since Mal and his ragtag crew have graced our screens.
But good news, Browncoats, because our wait is finally almost over.
The news dropped in the midst of an AwesomeCon panel and live taping of Fillion and co-star Alan Tudyk’s podcast "Once We Were Spacemen."
Accompanying them were original "Firefly" cast members Gina Torres, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Summer Glau, and Sean Maher.
Based on Fillion’s announcement video on Instagram, the entire original cast will be featured in this animated enterprise, including Alan Tudyk's Walsh, who was sadly killed in the "Serenity" film.
This "Firefly" series would seemingly be set directly after the sole TV season but prior to that 2005 big-screen movie.
Ron Glass passed away in 2016, which would necessitate a vocal recasting if that character is reintroduced. A pilot script is in the can, so it's go time!
Fillion and Co. are currently seeking a distribution partner for their "Firefly" endeavor, but with momentum building, fans clamoring, and all the creative elements in place, it shouldn’t be long before a streamer snaps it up fast!
Our money is on Hulu/Disney+, but we'll have to wait and see. And if no one picks it up, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet I will end someone.
Though the space western had a short life on the Fox Network and only ran for 14 episodes before being cancelled, it did spawn a 2005 feature film, "Serenity." and has since cultivated a dedicated cult following.
Created and written by Joss Whedon, "Firefly's" reboot has been given the seal of approval by "The Avengers'" filmmaker. The project will be headed up by Tara Butters ("Agent Carter," "Dollhouse") and Marc Guggenheim ("Arrow," "Flash").
Animation duties will fall upon the Academy Award-winning indie studio ShadowMachine ("Robot Chicken," "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio").
Despite it being over 20 years since the "Firefly" gang has been galavanting around the galaxy, an imaginative collection of prose novels, comic books, and graphic novels has kept the franchise relevant.
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/firefly-is-getting-an-animated-series-featuring-the-original-cast-and-were-all-shiny-with-anticipation
Shelter in place lifted at MacDill Air Force Base following threat, authorities say
Updated March 18, 2026 at 2:18 PM EDT
Limited information was provided. This comes after MacDill increased its security condition to FPCON Charlie, which is the second-highest level U.S. military threat condition.
MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa lifted its shelter-in-place order following a threat, authorities said.
The military base is the headquarters for U.S. Central Command, which directs military operations in the Middle East — including America's current involvement in the war with Iran.
The base posted on Facebook at 11:24 a.m. that a shelter-in-place order was in effect due to an unspecified threat. At 2:08 p.m., it said the threat to the base had been cleared, so the order was lifted and the gates are now open.
"We take all threats seriously and are taking appropriate measures to prioritize the safety and security of our installation," the U.S. Air Force base wrote on Facebook. "As a matter of policy, we will not release specifics on what security measures have been implemented."
This comes as the base increased its security condition Tuesday to FPCON Charlie, which is the second-highest level U.S. military threat condition.
According to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, this applies when an incident happens or intelligence gets information indicating terrorist action targeting personnel or facilities is likely.
It involves tightened security, including 100% ID checks, restricted access to essential personnel only and potential gate closures or additional presence.
The base said on Facebook that this allows it to "implement deliberate security measures proactively." MacDill remains in FPCON Charlie operations following Wednesday's threat.
"All personnel should remain vigilant, follow the direction of security forces and report any suspicious activity immediately," MacDill authorities wrote.
"Everyone plays a role in base defense — if you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to the base defense operations center at 813-828-3322."
Also, on Monday, a suspicious package was reported at the base's visitor center near the Dale Mabry Gate. According to authorities, first responders diverted traffic to the Bayshore gate out of caution.
By 5 p.m. that evening, the area was declared safe and normal gate operations resumed. The FBI is investigating the incident.
MacDill is not the only base to experience these incidents. For example, NBC10 Philadelphia reports how the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in South Jersey also issued an FPCON Charlie on Tuesday due to reported suspicious packages.
https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2026-03-18/shelter-in-place-macdill-air-force-base-centcom-following-threat
https://x.com/sentdefender/status/2034060305387389399
Civilian killed in Ukrainian strike on Russian city – governor
Updated 18 Mar, 2026 13:20
One person was killed and several residential buildings were hit overnight in a Ukrainian drone attack on the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, according to regional authorities. Debris from drones intercepted by air defenses fell across several districts of the city.
Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Wednesday that the strike formed part of a broader overnight wave of drone attacks targeting southern Russia.
“One person died as a result of a terrorist drone attack in Krasnodar,” Kondratyev wrote on social media.
The most serious damage occurred when a drone struck a high-rise residential building in the western part of the city, sparking a fire in an apartment. Emergency crews evacuated residents from the building while firefighters extinguished the blaze, regional officials said.
Kondratyev said debris from downed drones damaged three multi-story residential buildings in the regional capital. In one building, a fire broke out in an apartment but was quickly put out by firefighters.
Another drone reportedly hit the wall of a residential block and crashed without igniting, while fragments from a third were later found on the balcony of another apartment building.
Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a resident of the damaged apartment died in the incident.
One drone fell near the Marriott hotel, triggering a powerful explosion and sending smoke over the area, according to local media reports.
The SHOT Telegram channel reported up to ten explosions around 5 AM. Officials said falling debris also damaged parked cars and other property in residential areas. The mayor urged residents to remain calm and avoid approaching windows.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 85 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight across several regions. It said 42 drones were shot down over Krasnodar Region and another 13 over the Black Sea.
In another Ukrainian strike on Tuesday, an FPV drone hit a car in Russia’s Belgorod Region bordering Ukraine, killing a man at the scene, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
In a separate drone attack in the town of Korocha, five teenagers were wounded after a UAV detonated near a social facility, he added.
https://www.rt.com/russia/635401-krasnodar-ukraine-drone-attack/
Putin congratulates Russians on anniversary of Crimea reunification (VIDEO)
18 Mar, 2026 18:08
The president has called the event one of the “defining milestones” in the nation’s history
Crimea’s reunification with Russia has become a symbol of unity and cohesion, President Vladimir Putin said as he marked the 12th anniversary of the event.
The choice made by the Crimean people in 2014 to be with their homeland was “decisive and historic,” the president said at a government meeting on Wednesday.
It is “one of the most important… even defining milestones” in Russia’s 1,000-year history, he added.
The Crimean Peninsula overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining Russia in a referendum following the Western-backed Maidan coup in Kiev in 2014.
On March 18 that year, Putin signed the law on Crimea’s ascension to Russia. The move was not recognized by Western countries or Ukraine, which has vowed to take the peninsula back.
Similar choices were also made by the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and the regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, Putin said, adding that it is these choices that the Russian military is currently defending on the battlefield.
The Donetsk and Lugansk republics seceded from Ukraine following the Maidan coup in 2014. In autumn 2022, the two regions, along with Kherson and Zaporozhye, officially joined Russia as a result of referendums.
Russia has invested 1.3 trillion rubles ($16 billion) in the Crimean Peninsula over 12 years, according to Putin. The money was spent to address social and economic issues such as transportation infrastructure, energy, and new education and healthcare facilities, Putin said.
https://www.rt.com/russia/635452-putin-anniversary-crimea-unification/
Ukraine Drones Wipe Out Most Tanks at Key Russian Military Fuel Depot in Krasnodar
March 18, 2026, 10:07 am
A strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) on an oil depot in Labinsk, Krasnodar Krai, on March 16 reportedly resulted in the near-total destruction of its storage tank farm.
As reported by Astra outlet, citing sources in the region’s emergency services, a massive fire broke out at the facility after four drones struck, engulfing an area of about 3,000 square meters.
As a result, 18 of the 20 storage tanks burned – including 9 gasoline and 9 diesel tanks - as well as 7 fuel tankers.
No injuries were reported, and the facility’s operations have been suspended, Astra said.
Notably, in its Tuesday report, the Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ claimed that most of the depot’s storage facilities were destroyed in the attack on Labinsk, with further details expected after satellite imagery is analyzed.
Vladimir Zaburayev, head of the Labinsk district, said on Tuesday that the fire was still burning but described the situation as “stable.”
Russia’s consumer safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, reported no excess concentrations of harmful substances in the air.
As of Wednesday, March 18, Ukraine has not officially confirmed the attack.
According to Russian media, the Labinsk oil depot belongs to Yugnefteprodukt and is one of the largest in the region.
It has a storage capacity of 9,000 cubic meters and supplies fuel – including AI-80, AI-92, and AI-95 gasoline, diesel, and lubricants – to Krasnodar and Stavropol Krais, Rostov Oblast, and Adygea.
Russia’s Krasnodar Krai came under a massive drone strike early on March 16, according to the regional operational headquarters.
Explosions near the oil depot were first reported around 2 a.m., with residents of Labinsk sharing videos showing the strike and a large fire in the industrial zone.
The region is considered a key logistics hub for the Russian military, with oil depots serving as “gas stations” for troops in southern Ukraine.
Disrupting such facilities can complicate refueling and potentially create fuel shortages at the front.
Local authorities later confirmed the incident but attributed the blaze to “falling debris from a downed UAV.”
Emergency crews, including fire and rescue units, were deployed to contain the fire. Open flames and a large column of black smoke were visible from several kilometers away.
In recent days, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted fuel and energy facilities in Krasnodar Krai. On March 12 and 15, an oil depot near Tikhoretsk caught fire, according to the regional task force.
The strikes reportedly hit storage tanks at the Tikhoretskaya Linear Production and Dispatch Station (LPDS), as well as the nearby Tikhoretsk-Nafta terminal.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72140
Command post of elite Russian Rubikon drone unit hit in occupied Donetsk, Ukraine says
March 18, 2026 4:41 pm
Long-range Ukrainian drones struck a command post of Moscow's elite drone unit known as the Rubikon Center for Unmanned Technologies in Russian-occupied Donetsk, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported on March 18.
The SSO said the overnight strikes also hit a coordination center for Russian unmanned systems units, which are also located in Donetsk, along with ammunition depots, unspecified equipment, and a storage site in a village about a two-hour drive southwest of the occupied city.
Rubikon, which continues to post drone footage of the unit's work against Ukrainian forces, has not commented on the SSO's claim as of the time of publication. The Russian Defense Ministry has also not reacted to the SSO's claim.
Outgunned and outmanned on the front, Ukraine has attempted to slowly grind down Russia's war machine from afar, striking military targets and infrastructure supporting the Russian army mainly with its domestically produced drones.
The SSO claims that "underground members" of the Resistance Movement against Russian occupation have helped its troops conduct the drone strikes.
A core part of Russia's unmanned system program to bolster its drone warfare against Ukraine, Rubikon specializes in both hunting down Ukrainian drone pilots and shooting their drones in the sky.
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-says-drones-hit-elite-russian-unit-rubikons-command-post-in-occupied-donetsk/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/russia-sharing-satellite-imagery-drone-technology-with-iran-to-target-us-forces-in-middle-east-report/3869028
https://united24media.com/latest-news/russian-propagandas-latest-belgorod-fake-involves-a-drone-a-goat-and-zero-proof-17000
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-moves-beyond-the-black-sea-with-new-ocean-going-drone-fleet-zelenskyy-says-16985
https://english.nv.ua/nation/russian-drone-hits-draft-office-in-sumy-as-ukraine-warns-of-mobilization-campaign-50592880.html
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72183
IDF eliminates Imam Hussein Division Commander within a week of eliminating his predecessor
Updated: MARCH 18, 2026 20:52
The IDF eliminated the commander of the “Imam Hussein Division” in Beirut on Tuesday, a week after eliminating his predecessor, the IDF announced on Wednesday.
Hassan Ali Marwan was responsible for the division’s operations and had been appointed its commander following the elimination of the former commander, Ali Maslam Tabajeh, along with his deputy, Jihad al-Safira, and several other senior operatives.
In his position, Marwan had commanded the launch of missiles, UAVs, and rockets toward the State of Israel and IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon.
In addition, during Operation Northern Arrows, Dhu al-Fiqar, who had commanded the division before Tabajeh, was also eliminated, making Marwan the third commander of the division to be eliminated since the start of the operation.
According to the IDF, the “Imam Hussein Division” is a military force used by the Iranian Quds Force to advance the interests of the Iranian terror regime and to carry out attacks against the IDF and Israeli civilians.
IDF strikes two bridges over Litani River in Lebanon
The IDF struck two bridges over the Litani River in Lebanon on Wednesday after warning Lebanese civilians to evacuate the area.
According to the IDF, the bridges were used by Hezbollah terrorists to move weapons southward, such as rockets and launchers, to be used against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.
The IDF noted that the bridges were targeted to prevent harm to both Israeli civilians and Lebanese civilians.
"Israel will not allow Hezbollah to use Lebanese state infrastructure," said Defense Minister Israel Katz, describing the strikes as a "clear message to the Lebanese government."
IDF warned Lebanese civilians ahead of strikes
The IDF had warned residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate northward on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the strikes, citing Hezbollah infiltrations into the area.
“Due to Hezbollah's activities and the transfer of terrorist elements into southern Lebanon under the protection of the civilian population, the IDF is compelled to conduct a broad and precise targeting of Hezbollah's terrorist activities,” IDF Arabic spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee announced on X/Twitter.
Adraee specifically noted that the IDF intended to strike Litani River crossings to thwart Hezbollah’s southward movement of weapons and personnel.
“For your safety, you must continue moving to the area north of the Zahrani River and refrain from any movement south that could endanger your lives,” said Adraee.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-890451
other Israel
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/idf-unit-869-hezbollah-operations
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/video/israel-bombs-hezbollah-in-southern-lebanon-building-collapses-in-beirut-in-idf-strike-1080382
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-publishes-more-footage-of-strikes-on-iranian-soldiers/
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2026-03-18/ty-article/.premium/idf-strikes-litani-river-crossings-in-lebanon-health-ministry-20-people-killed/0000019d-0191-da5c-a3bd-0f933ebb0000
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-chief-attacks-by-settlers-on-palestinians-soliders-are-morally-and-ethically-unacceptable/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-strikes-hezbollah-financial-military-sites-lebanese-authorities-report-14-dead/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-has-demolished-5km-of-hamas-tunnels-in-gaza-over-past-two-weeks/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-expert-idf-strike-on-iranian-gas-field-is-dangerous-escalation-likely-to-impact-markets/
https://www.jns.org/israel-news/netanyahu-idf-watching-from-above-as-persians-celebrate-new-year
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-air-force-hit-over-200-targets-in-west-central-iran-in-past-day/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-confirms-strikes-on-two-lebanese-bridges-used-to-move-hezbollah-operatives-arms/
Monarch buys drone, recruits 118 security personnel
Mar 18, 2026 16:11 pm IST
Traditional ruler of Okpella Kingdom, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, His Royal Highness, Mike Sado, yesterday said he bought drone and recruited over 100 security personnel to tackle insecurity in Estako East Local Government and its environs.
He said he would erect a building for the Police Area Command.
The Okpella monarch, who spoke during an interaction with reporters, dismissed reports of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Oba Sado said some of his subjects that were used to sharing community development levies were unhappy with the reforms he introduced in the past seven months.
He said he ensured there was no more misuse of the fund, adding that infrastructural improvements had been recorded since he ascended the throne.
He said the alleged petition to the EFCC was aimed at damaging his reputation because of his insistence that community funds must be used for development, rather than shared among a few individuals.
The monarch said he had increased revenue from N120,000 to over N8 million monthly.
https://thenationonlineng.net/monarch-buys-drone-recruits-118-security-personnel/
High Alert In Maharashtra As 4 Thermal Power Stations Receive Drone Attack Threat
Mar 18, 2026
Nagpur:
Security has been intensified at four major thermal power stations in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region after an email threat to target them with drones.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Pakhale said that while the sender's identity remains under investigation, police have appropriately enhanced security measures across the affected sites.
Pakhale, while speaking to NDTV over the phone, stated, "The threat was received via a common email ID.
Identifying the sender or the organisation behind it is part of the ongoing investigation, hence it can not be revealed. Although the sender did not specify the timing of the attack, we have appropriately enhanced the security measures."
Immediately after receiving the email, a five-hour search operation was conducted at the Khaparkheda and Koradi power stations and their surrounding areas.
The search involved the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), the Dog Squad, and the Quick Response Team (QRT). Although the operation was extensive, officials confirmed that no suspicious activity was found on the premises.
Sources told NDTV the email threatened to blow up the power stations at Khaparkheda, Koradi, Chandrapur, and Paras using drones equipped with cyanide or lethal gas bombs.
Initial findings suggest the email may have originated from Tamil Nadu. However, the Cyber Police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine if the IP address was masked or spoofed to hide the true location of the sender.
Following the threat, authorities have imposed strict restrictions on flying drones in the vicinity of all four thermal power stations.
Devendra Rathod, the senior security manager of the Koradi Power Station, confirmed that a high alert has been declared across the premises.
He added that even though nothing was found during the initial search, security has been intensified to prevent any potential risks.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/high-alert-in-maharashtra-as-4-thermal-power-stations-receive-drone-attack-threat-11232729
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202603119917
https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/uae-travel-chaos-as-drone-strike-near-dubai-international-airport-causes-road-closures-flight-delays-and-eid-rush-traffic-latest-update/
other Iran
https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-fbi-warnings-iran-likely-cant-strike-us-homeland-with-military-drones/
https://www.thecable.ng/saudi-aramco-resumes-refinery-operations-after-drone-attack/
https://time.com/article/2026/03/18/iran-war-united-states-warning-ceasefire-strikes-escalation/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/18/tulsi-gabbard-iran-war-senate-hearing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMxRCUe_g0k (CIA Director John Ratcliffe claims that Iran was ‘an immediate threat’)
https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/statement-from-director-john-ratcliffe-about-intelligence-on-irans-nuclear-program/
Iran vows to hit regional energy sites after Israeli strikes on gas facilities
March 18, 2026
Summary
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy commander warned oil facilities linked to the United States could be targeted alongside American bases in the region after Israel struck a major gas site in southern
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Israel struck parts of the South Pars natural gas facilities in Iran in coordination with and with approval from the US, Axios reported citing Israeli officials.
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Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in an overnight strike.
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Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran’s stance against developing nuclear weapons is unlikely to change, while adding that the new supreme leader has not yet set out his position.
12 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS
Israel attacked Iranian navy targets in Caspian Sea - Israeli media
Israel attacked targets linked to Iran’s navy in the Caspian Sea on Wednesday, according to Israeli media reports.
20 minutes ago
Kallas tells Araghchi safe passage in Strait of Hormuz a priority - Reuters
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a priority for Europe and urged Tehran to halt attacks on critical infrastructure, Reuters reported citing an EU official.
“Kallas called on Iran to cease all attacks on critical infrastructure in the region,” the official said.
The official added that Kallas stressed the EU supports de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to the war.
The call took place before the execution of a European citizen held in Iran, which the EU condemns in the strongest terms, the official said.
31 minutes ago
Qatar says Iran launched five ballistic missiles, one hits Ras Laffan
Qatar said on Wednesday it was targeted by five ballistic missiles launched from Iran, adding that one struck Ras Laffan Industrial City after most were intercepted.
“Our armed forces successfully intercepted four of the ballistic missiles, while one missile fell in Ras Laffan Industrial City, causing a fire,” the Qatari Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
"Civil Defense teams are currently responding and working to contain the fire," it added.
46 minutes ago
Araghchi lambasts silence over Israel killings of Iran officials
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a sharply worded statement condemning Israel’s killing of three senior Iranian figures in recent days, describing the attacks as part of an “assassination spree.”
“Imagine an Iranian president coolly presenting a ‘kill list’ to a foreign ambassador: the US president, Congressional leaders, top Generals,” he wrote on X. “And then declaring, without hesitation: ‘We will eliminate them, one by one.’”
Araghchi also accused international actors of double standards.
“But when it comes to Israel, the usual rules of the game do not seem to apply,” he said. “The very same guardians of ‘law and order’ fall silent, equivocate, or worse, supply the weapons and the cover.”
He said Israel’s actions go beyond hypocrisy, calling them “a calculated moral collapse.”
1/2
1 hour ago
BREAKING NEWS
Fire breaks in Qatar's Ras Laffan facility
Qatar is reporting a fire in Ras Laffan following what it says was Iranian targeting.
The area hosts the world’s largest LNG facility.
1 hour ago
Oil prices jump following Israel's strike on Iran's gas sites
Oil prices rose and global stocks fell on Friday after strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field and warnings from Tehran that regional energy facilities could be targeted.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed to $108.51 a barrel, up almost 5 percent, while US crude rose to $98, gaining 1.86 percent.
European natural gas prices also jumped 6.6 percent .
1 hour ago
Iran says gas network stable after Israeli attack on facilities
Iran’s National Iranian Gas Company says the country’s gas network remains stable following today’s attack on gas facilities in the south.
In a statement published by Tasnim news agency, the company said “part of the refining units” were damaged but gas production continues and teams are working to restore operations.
It added that a fire at the South Pars facility has been extinguished, with equipment cooling operations now under way.
2 hours ago
IAEA says structure near Iran’s Bushehr reactor hit, no damage to plant
A structure about 350 meters from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant reactor was hit and destroyed, but the reactor itself was not damaged and no staff were injured, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.
“There was no damage to the reactor itself nor injuries to staff,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.
2 hours ago
Trump yet to decide on ground troops in Iran - CBS
President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to send US forces into Iran to seize nuclear material, a move described as highly dangerous, according to CBS News, citing sources familiar with the matter.
In private conversations, Trump has told people close to him that he has “a lot of decisions to make,” as the Pentagon prepares multiple options for the next phase of the conflict.
After US strikes on three nuclear sites last June, the UN nuclear watchdog said it could not account for an estimated 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium Iran had prior to the attacks.
2 hours ago
Iran’s parliament speaker says ‘eye for an eye’ in effect
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said after attacks on the country’s infrastructure that an “eye for an eye” approach was now in effect and a new level of conflict had begun.
“Last night, the people of Iran thwarted all the enemy’s plans,” Ghalibaf said on X.
“The equation of an eye for an eye is now in effect, and a new level of conflict has begun,” he added.
2/2
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2026-03-19/low-cost-autonomous-cruise-missile-drones-listed-on-alibaba/106448410
'Cruise missile' drones and low-cost Shahed knockoffs listed on Alibaba
March 18, 2026
In short:
Sales catalogues obtained by the ABC showed "commercial" drones listed on the online retail platform Alibaba described as "cruise missiles" and "suicide attack drones".
Some of the listed drones had near-identical dimensions and capabilities to the Iranian-made Shahed drones that have effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz.
What's next?
The ABC could not confirm if the sellers were genuine, but when it notified Alibaba the company removed the listings and said it suspended the sellers' accounts.
One-way attack drones described as "cruise missiles" were listed on the popular online retail platform Alibaba for less than $50,000.
Sellers described these long-range fixed-wing drones, similar in design to those used by Iran to attack nearby Gulf states, as suitable for "aerial mapping".
But the same sellers' PDF sales catalogues, obtained by the ABC through the Alibaba platform, made it clear the drones were also designed for war.
After being notified, Alibaba removed the listings and said it suspended the sellers' accounts.
But experts said combat-drone proliferation was a growing problem, with the drones typically being sold under a pretence of "commercial" use.
Bomb drones advertised as pesticide sprayers
One China-based supplier's catalogue listed two kinds of autonomous "cruise missile", equipped with thermal imaging "AI guidance".
The supplier had listed the same drones on Alibaba as "commercial".
According to the supplier's catalogue, the drones were able to "achieve autonomous locking of targets (people, building, vehicles, ships, etc.) and autonomous impact on [sic]".
A small drone described in the catalogue as able to carry a 2-kilogram bomb 100 kilometres was listed by the seller on Alibaba as suitable for "pesticide spraying".
In another catalogue, a China-based supplier listed five kinds of "suicide attack drones" including two with near-identical dimensions and capabilities to the Iranian-made Shahed 136 one-way attack drone.
The threat of attack from Iran's Shahed drones, as well as ballistic missiles and drone boats, has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz and choked global oil supplies.
Some sellers also publicly listed military hardware on Alibaba itself, rather than just in their catalogues.
One seller listed a range of small "kamikazedrones", similar to the type being used to intercept drones in Ukraine and the Gulf, and "aerial delivery" drones depicted with mortar rounds.
Alibaba's official policies prohibit the sale of military equipment.
In a statement, the Chinese-owned company said it "strictly prohibits the sale of military weapons" and "acted immediately upon notification to remove the non-compliant third-party listings".
Unlike guns, tanks or fighter jets, drones are "dual-use". Commercial versions can be relatively easily converted to military use.
As a result, long-range drones can be legitimately sold for commercial logistics and survey work, despite the fact they are also capable of flying hundreds of kilometres to deliver a 50kg warhead.
This blurring of conventional boundaries between commercial and military hardware makes it very hard to regulate or otherwise control the sale and spread of these drones as dangerous weapons.
1/2
'What they use it for has nothing to do with us': Drone seller
China, which supplies more than 70 per cent of the world's commercial drones, restricts the export of high-performance drone components to prevent civilian drones from being used for military purposes.
It also outwardly maintains a policy of not supplying weapons or military equipment to active conflict zones.
But several suppliers boasted to the ABC they could avoid export restrictions by claiming the drones they sold, including the "suicide attack drones", were purely for commercial use.
One supplier, who said they wanted to sell to the "Ukrainian and Western battlefields, said the drones weren't armed, "so we can't call it a combat drone."
Another said: "It's like a car, it can be used for home work, also can be used for military if you refit bullet-proof glass on it."
A salesperson for a third supplier told the ABC they did not think their products were being used as weapons, but this was ultimately a decision for the customer.
"Just like a car, it's just a means of transportation," they said.
"After the customer makes a purchase, what they use it for has nothing to do with us."
The ABC cannot confirm if the sellers are genuine and able to supply the products they listed.
Many of the listings included videos of drones being tested, as well as photos from inside drone factories.
Access to drones an 'international free-for-all'
Several experts the ABC spoke to said the listings probably were genuine.
China was the main supplier of combat drones to both Russia and Ukraine, Oleksandra Molloy, a senior lecturer in aviation at UNSW said.
"You need to get the warhead separately but they can send military drones worldwide," Dr Molloy said.
"We are now in a drone age where cheap, off-the-shelf commercial drones are being used militarily."
David Dunn, a professor at the University of Birmingham and an authority on the lethal uses of drones, said access to combat-drone technology was an "international free-for-all".
"Traditionally, access to advanced weaponry was limited by virtue of the cost … and the ability to distinguish which of those technologies were military," he said.
"These things are so much in demand and so useful in commercial settings that they are available to everyone, everywhere.
"What we're looking at now is a world of potential increased vulnerability to many more players on a scale that you've never experienced before."
Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said adapting small Chinese-made quadcopter drones for military use was "nothing new", but China would be keeping "a very close eye" on the export of larger long-range drones such as those listed on Alibaba.
Dr Davis said the war in the Middle East showed how long-range drones could neutralise conventional air defences.
"This is the problem the Americans are facing," he said.
"They're using very expensive surface-to-air missiles like the Patriot, which can cost a million a shot, to shoot down a Shahed which cost $30,000 a drone."
"They're running out of interceptors even as Iranians are deploying large numbers of low-cost drones."
2/2